Determination Of Thallium In Urine Research Articles

Determination of thallium in urine, blood, and hair in illicit opioid users in Iran

Heavy metals, including thallium and lead, are introduced to illicit drug users' body as a result of using drugs such as cocaine and heroin. This study aimed to determine urine, blood, and hair thallium (Tl) concentrations in illicit opioid users along with the relevant clinical signs and symptoms consistent with thallotoxicosis and to compare them with the corresponding variables in the control non-opioid user group. This case-control study was conducted on 50 illicit opioid users who had abused opioids continuously for more than a year, referred to Amirie Drug Abuse Treatment Clinic in Kashan, Iran. The control group included 50 non-opioid users. Thallium concentrations in urine, blood, and hair were assessed in both groups (n = 100) using electrothermal (graphite furnace) atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS, GF AAS). In the studied group, the median (interquartile range) concentrations of thallium in urine, blood, and hair were 54.8 ± 79.9 μg/L, 14.5 ± 11.1 μg/L, and 5.4 ± 3.7 µg/g, respectively; these values were 4.8 ± 5.2 μg/L, 2.5 ± 2.4 μg/L, and 1.4 ± 1.1 µg/g, respectively, in the control group. There were significant differences in urine, blood, and hair thallium concentrations between the study group and the control group (p < 0.001). There were significant correlations between duration of illicit opioid use and urine thallium concentrations (r = 0.394, p = 0.005) and hair thallium concentrations (r = 0.293, p = 0.039), but not with blood thallium concentrations (r = 0.246, p = 0.085). Urine and blood thallium concentrations of illicit opioid users with clinical signs and symptoms consistent with thallotoxicosis of weakness (p = 0.01), depression (p = 0.03), and headache (p = 0.03) were higher than users without these problems. The results of the study showed that thallium concentrations in urine, blood, and hair in illicit opioid users were significantly higher than the comparable concentrations in the control group. This can be due to the use of illicit opioids adulterated with thallium. Also, this study showed long-term illicit opioid use may lead to thallium exposure. In addition, cigarette smoking was associated with increased thallium exposure.

Polarographic determination of thallium in urine.

Polarographic determination of thallium in urine.

The microdetermination of thallium by ICP-AES after previous preconcentration on modified silica. Comparison with integrated-platform graphite atomic absorption spectrometry

The extensively used technique of ICP-AES determination of thallium at optimal lines 190.864(1) nm and 190.864(2) nm in different orders n 1 = 135 and n 2 = 136 shows just limited sensitivity. Thus, TlIIICl4 − was preliminarily separated and pre-concentrated on modified silica C18 in the form of ion associate with various cationic surfactants. The surfactant Zephyramine with 0.1 M HCl served as a sorbent surface activator during quantitative sorption of 5–20 µg of thallium(III) from 15–1000 mL of aqueous solutions. The subsequent elution with 96% ethanol and the final determination with ICP were carried out after evaporating the solvent. Limited interference by SO4 2−, NO3 −, Cl−, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+ and Fe3+ during the sorption was observed. The above procedure is applicable for the determination of thallium in surface and mineral waters. The use of PdMg(NO3)4 or NH4VO3 modifiers and Zeeman splitting for the sample background elimination with the integrated-platform graphite AAS technique at 276.8 nm was found to be suitable for the direct determination of thallium(I) up to 30 ng in the presence of the following species: large amounts of chlorine, 100 fold excess of NO3 −, SO4 2−, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Al3+ and Fe3+. The temperature program starting by stepwise drying between 90 and 110 °C followed by pyrolysis at 700 °C and the atomisation at 1700 °C was optimized this way. This method can be applied for the determination of thallium in urine and spruce needles.

Determination of thallium in urine with Zeeman effect graphite furnace atomic absorption.

Thallium is determined in urine with a simple dilution as the only sample pretreatment. Zeeman effect background correction provides adequate accommodation for non-atomic absorption such that sufficient diluted urine can be introduced into the furnace to achieve a detection limit of 0.5 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy were evaluated with Environmental Protection Agency water samples and in vitro spiked urine pools; precision of 15% at the 6 ng/mL level was observed. Diluted urine was used in calibration, with only 4 to 5% difference in slope observed within run among randomly selected urine specimens.

Liquid-liquid extractive separation of thallium(III) with liquid-anion exchangers from malonate solutions. Determination of thallium in urine.

A novel method for the solvent extraction separation of thallium(III) from associated elements is presented in this paper. Thallium(III) was quantitatively extracted at pH 4.0 from 0.1 M malonic acid with 0.08 M Amberlite LA-2 in xylene. Thallium was stripped from the organic phase with 1 M perchloric acid and was determined spectrophotometrically at 635 nm with malachite green. Thallium(III) was separated from zinc, cadmium, lead, iron, gallium and indium by process of selective extraction or selective stripping. It was possible to separate thallium (I) from thallium(III) in any proportion. It was also separated from the multicomponent mixture. The method was extended for the analysis of thallium in urine.

The determination of thallium in urine by atomic absorption spectroscopy and emission spectrography

The detection and measurement of thallium in urine samples using atomic absorption spectroscopy and emission spectrography is described. The sensitivity and precision of the methods are shown to be adequate for rapid routine screening in cases of suspected thallotoxicosis.

Determination of traces of thallium by fluorimetric titration

Thallium(I) shows strong fluorescence in a solution which is 3.3 M in HCl and 0.8 M in KCl. The excitation wavelength is 253 nm and the wavelength selected for the fluorescence 438 nm. Due to the strong absorption at 253 nm by thallium(III) a reductometric rather than an oxidimetric titration will lead to a correct fluorimetric end-point indication. The precision and the selectivity of the titrimetric method are better than those of the corresponding methods based on the use of calibration curves. Traces of thallium down to 1 μg can be determined with good precision. The method can be used for the determination of thallium in urine at the ppm level.

Direct spectrographic determination of traces of thallium in urine

A new method for direct spectrographic determination of thallium in urine of suspected poisoning cases is described. Addition of graphite powder to urine residue produces a steady dc arc discharge. One to five parts per million thallium may be determined, and a determination requires only 30 minutes. Carbon electrodes and a quartz spectrograph were used.

Trace analysis by anodic stripping voltammetry III. Trace metal determination in biological media: I. The determination of thallium in urine

A rapid, direct method for the determination of thallium in urine by anodic stripping voltammetry is described. Synthetic standards and comparative wet-ashing methods have been employed to substantiate the validity of the results obtained. In addition, the method has been shown to be applicable in the presence of certain common additives.

The determination of thallium in urine

A method was developed in which Brilliant green is used for the spectrophotometric determination of thallium in urine. The thallium- Brilliant green complex, formed in the presence of the organic substrate, is extracted into toluene. The optimum conditions for the determination are described, and the sources of various interferences examined. The method was used to check thallium excretion in the urine of patients. (auth)

The Determination of Thallium in Urine

Abstract A variation of the triphenylmethane dye method for the determination of thallium has been modified to be suitable for analysis of urine samples in a small laboratory. Thallium is oxidized to the thallic state by bromine water, and is reacted with methyl violet for the colorimetric measurement. A maximum of 200 μg thallium per liter was found in the urine of 21 exposed individuals. Urine of unexposed persons showed virtually no thallium.

The determination of thallium in urine and air.

A method is described for the analysis of collected air samples or urine for thallium, with recoveries averaging 96 the J-57 engin 6 per cent. Procedures are given for the preliminary preparation of samples for the preparation of the standard curve, for the oxidation of thallous ion to thallic ion, and for the extraction and measurement of the thallium-methyl violet complex. Comments pertinent to the development and use of the method are made.